NFL proposes changes to replay, roster size and injured reserve

Nov. 6, 2013

The NFL announced today that several rules changes will be proposed and voted on at next week's annual meetings in Palm Beach, Fla.
Competition Committee chairman Rich McKay outlined some of the key rules proposals:
*Giving instant replay decisions to an official in the booth and not the referee on the field (proposed by the Buffalo Bills). McKay said it was proposed to speed up the replay process.
* Adopting the postseason overtime rules for regular-season games, too (proposed by the Pittsburgh Steelers).
* Adopting the college rule for too many men on the field, making it a deadball foul (proposed by the Competition Committee).
* Adding turnovers to the plays that are reviewed automatically like all scoring plays were last season (proposed by the Competition Committee).
The key by-law proposals are:
* Moving the trade deadline to after Week 8. It currently is after Week 6.
* Increasing the offseason/training camp roster limit to 90 players, up from 80, but also count unsigned draft picks, which currently do not count.
* Adding an injured reserve category in which if a player is carried on the roster through the first weekend of the regular season, that player could be placed on a reserve list and be allowed to practice six weeks later and play two weeks after that. It would be limited to one player per season.
* Designate a one-spot roster exemption for a player with a concussion.
The proposals will be presented to the teams on Monday and voted upon on Wednesday. Changes need approval from 24 of the 32 teams. Among those on the Competition Committee is Packers president Mark Murphy.